 | Poems |  |
TRUTHS.
I wear a rose in my hair,
Because I feel like a weed;
Who knows that the rose is thorny
And makes my temples bleed?
If one gets to his journey's end, what matter how galled the steed?
Because I feel like a weed;
Who knows that the rose is thorny
And makes my temples bleed?
If one gets to his journey's end, what matter how galled the steed?
I gloss my face with laughter,
Because I cannot be calm;
When you listen to the organ,
Do you hear the words of the psalm?
If they give you poison to drink, 'tis better to call it balm.
Because I cannot be calm;
When you listen to the organ,
Do you hear the words of the psalm?
If they give you poison to drink, 'tis better to call it balm.
If I sneer at youth's wild passion,
Who fancies I break my heart?
'Tis this world's righteous fashion,
With a sneer to cover a smart.
Better to give up living than not to play your part.
Who fancies I break my heart?
'Tis this world's righteous fashion,
With a sneer to cover a smart.
Better to give up living than not to play your part.
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If I scatter gold like a goblin,
My life may yet be poor.
Does Love come in at the window
When Money stands at the door?
I am what I seem to men. Need I be any more?
My life may yet be poor.
Does Love come in at the window
When Money stands at the door?
I am what I seem to men. Need I be any more?
God sees from the high blue heaven,
He sees the grape in the flower;
He hears one's life-blood dripping
Through the maddest, merriest hour;
He knows what sackcloth and ashes hide in the purple of power.
He sees the grape in the flower;
He hears one's life-blood dripping
Through the maddest, merriest hour;
He knows what sackcloth and ashes hide in the purple of power.
The broken wing of the swallow
He binds in the middle air;
I shall be what I am in Paradise—
So, heart, no more despair!
Remember the blessed Jesus, and wipe His feet with thy hair.
He binds in the middle air;
I shall be what I am in Paradise—
So, heart, no more despair!
Remember the blessed Jesus, and wipe His feet with thy hair.
| Poems | |